Insect Science and its Application (1997) 17, 69-78

Des E. Conlong (1997)
Biological control of Eldana saccharina Walker in South African sugarcane: constraints identified from 15 years of research
Insect Science and its Application 17 (1), 69-78
Abstract: The progress of the South African Sugar Association Experiment Station's 15-year-old biological control programme against Eldana saccharina Walker is reviewed. Two approaches at controlling this borer, a 'new association' and a 'modified' classical biological approach are summarised. Constraints identified as limiting the successful establishment of 10 egg, 12 larval and 2 pupal 'new association' parasitoids include host incompatibility, climatic incompatibility, poor ecological and biological life history knowledge, incorrect parasitoid searching ability and hyperparasitic tendencies. The 3 egg and 7 larval 'modified' classical biocontrol parasitoids which could be reared in the laboratory had constraints such as parasitising ability, different host habitat, differing host behaviours in different habitats and initial host identification difficulties to overcome. Difficulties encountered in this biological control programme against an indigenous pest insect show that biological control is not easy. Knowledge of constraints identified during this programme will hopefully be of use to others embarking on similar projects.

Le progres realise en 15 annees par le programme de lutte biologique contre Eldana saccharina Walker dans la Station Experimentale de l'Association Sucriere de l'Afrique du Sud est revu. Deux approches pour lutter contre ce foreur, une 'nouvelle association' et une approche de lutte biologique classique 'modifiee' sont resumees. Des contraintes identifiees comme limitant le succes de l'etablissement de 10 parasitoides oeufs, 12 du stade larvaires et 2 du stade pupal dans l'approche de al 'nouvelle association' comprennent l'incompatibilite de l'hote, l'incompatibilite climatique, la pauvre connaissance de l'ecologie et l'histoire naturelle, l'habilite de recherche du parasitoide inadaptee et des tendances a l'hyperparasitime. Dans la lutte biologique classique 'modifiee', les 3 parasitoides des oeufs et les 7 du stade larvaire qu'il etait possible d'elever au laboratoire avaient a surmonter des contraintes telles que la capacite de parasiter, la difference de l'habitat de l'hote, des comportements differents de l'hote dans des habitats differents ainsi que des difficultes dans l'identification prealable de l'hote. Les difficultes rencontrees dans la lutte biologique contre un insect ravageur indigene montrent que la lutte biologique n'est pas aisee. Il y a espoir que la connaissance des contraintes identifiees au cours de ce programme seront utiles pour d'autres qui entreprennent des projets similaires.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Des E. Conlong

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
review

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Eldana saccharina	Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)	South Africa